We offer workshops throughout the year, andon demand for private groups
Our workshops
Our workshops are designed to help you turn complex information into accessible, understandable communication.
Offered online via Microsoft Teams or Zoom, ticketed through Humanitix
Can be run as a dedicated private session for your team — online or face to face, and adjusted to meet your specific needs
Come with a certificate of completion and comprehensive, take-home notes
Need a workshop to address a specific topic or skillset? Email us — we'll work with you to curate the right workshop for your team, or develop a new one from scratch.
Workshop outlines
Full day face to face, or 2 half-days online
Learn how to turn complex information into clear communication. This workshop can help if you're writing about science, health, medicine, the environment, data or policy.
Workshop topics
Common problems Examples of typical complex writing from a variety of sources
Where to start Questions to ask when first working on a document
Writing clearly and succinctly Avoiding pitfalls such as long sentences, overuse of jargon and passive voice
Improving documents through editing The stages of editing, from substantive editing through to proofreading
'Bare bones approach' Using a simple checklist to determine what level of editing a document requires
Half a day
Learn how to create and style text, images and tables to make them accessible for everyone.
Workshop topics
Why accessibility matters What accessibility means and how it benefits everyone
Choosing accessible language How to write to suit your audiences
Styling for consistency and usability Using templates and styles to make your work accessible
Making accessible tables Creating and styling tables so they can be read by a screen reader
Visuals Using alt text to make visuals accessible
Half a day
Learn about the extra demands inherent in preparing technical and scientific material. Most writing advice focuses on words — but often we're presenting diagrams, tables, plots of data, references and mathematics, and the text must describe a nuanced chain of reasoning accurately and unambiguously. This is even more important now that many first drafts are written with the help of AI.
Workshop topics
Surveying the field The need for technical editing skills; what we're trying to achieve and how
Editing tables Shaping tables to best effect; presenting the data correctly; getting the details right
Reviewing visuals Recognising good and poor figures; reviewing figures and diagrams
Presenting mathematics and statistics Knowing the conventions and how to implement them
Comparing, concluding and confusing Using precise language; identifying ambiguity; writing clearly and directly
Finding the best advice Finding reliable subject-specific advice
Full day face to face, or 2 half-days online
Learn how to present data visually with influence and integrity. Match your type of data to the correct graph, table or map, and design these visuals to give your 'data story' maximum effect.
Workshop topics
Defining audience and message Be clear about who you're talking to and what you want to say
Understanding the data Present data in a way that suits its type and avoids misrepresenting it
Choosing the visual Match the visual to the message
Avoiding common errors Practical advice
Designing the visuals, including
colour
accessibility
font choices
Full day face to face, or 2 half-days online
Learn how to create infographics that help audiences understand key messages or processes, and bring your complex content to life.
Workshop topics
Types of infographics Understanding the different types (data, process and message) and their uses
When to use an infographic Making sure the effort has the highest impact
Effective infographics How to avoid infographic pitfalls
Identifying the story Creating a clear story and messaging
Visual structure and design Using compelling images to support and explain the story
Putting it all together and production Working with a designer to create and produce the final design
Full day face to face, or 2 half-days online
Learn how to select, understand and present data in reports, presentations, recommendations and evidence-based policy.
Workshop topics
Defining data
What do we mean by data?
What types of data might we encounter, and where do we find it?
Key statistics
Measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and when to use them